Unity & Variety

Image by IRRI Images @ Flickr

The title for this project came to me as I looked at the workplace around me. I see so much variety, yet so much unity. Colored by Design is an intentional series of words that speak differently to different people. 

What I'm looking for is the soul of what has driven all of us to this place. A wise man once told me, you can't have an intelligent conversation, without first defining terms. So before we go any further, I want to take a moment to do just that.

• Col•ored, adj : Having color or a certain color; Sometimes used in combination (i.e. "colored drawing paper"); Having skin rich in melanin pigments, "NAACP" (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People); A derogatory United States term used to describe African-American people; Biased; Favoring on side over another, positively or negatively.
• De•sign, v : To prepare for; To fashion artistically; Skillfully; To intend for a definite purpose (i.e. "The program was designed specifically for you"); n :  Graphic Design; A plan or project (i.e. "A design for a new process"); Organization of functions or elements; The combination of details or features of a picture, building, etc (i.e. "The design of a bracelet"); Intention and purpose.

As the process of drafting my roadmap for this project evolves, I am seeing the breadth of opportunities that can be explored. What inspires us? How did you get here? Where is the diversity? Who told you? When will we break free?

The variety is astounding. As designers we all have our unique styles, approaches to solving problems, our path to this point in our now, and yet we are all bound...no, united, by the same hope. 

To create. To communicate. To share.